--- title: Why is Korean Music Popular? description: Austin Lee, a University of Advancing Technology student writes about the increased popularity of Korean Pop Music or more colloquially known as KPop. image: https://blog.uat.edu/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/corea-image-communication-institute-names-psy-biggest-star-of-2015.jpg --- [![image-26](https://blog.uat.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing/Logos/image-26.png?width=99&name=image-26.png "image-26")](https://www.uat.edu/) ** - [Home](https://www.uattech.com) - [Majors](http://www.uat.edu/advancing-technology-degrees) - [About UAT](https://www.uat.edu/about-uat) - [Request More Information](https://www.uat.edu/request-info) [![Take a Virtual, Interactive Tour ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3455363/92ff0e66-7821-430b-88c3-a32c82c5bda2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3455363/92ff0e66-7821-430b-88c3-a32c82c5bda2) # What's happening on UAT's campus- A blog published by UAT Students. ALL CATEGORIES - [all Categories](https://blog.uat.edu) - [ Advancing Computer Science ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/advancing-computer-science) - [ Advertising Art ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/advertising-art) - [ Artificial Intelligence ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/artificial-intelligence) - [ Business Technology ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/business-technology) - [ Cyber Security ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/cyber-security) - [ Data Science ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/data-science) - [ Digital Maker and Fabrication ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/digital-maker-and-fabrication) - [ Digital Marketing ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/digital-marketing) - [ Digital Video ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/digital-video) - [ Game Studies ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/game-studies) - [ Human Computer Interaction ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/human-computer-interaction) - [ Robotics and Embedded Systems ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/robotics-and-embedded-sytems) - [ Software Engineering ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/software-engineering) - [ Virtual Reality ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/virtual-reality) - [ Alumni ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/alumni) - [ Behind the Bits Magazine ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/behind-the-bits) - [ Career and Work ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/career-and-work) - [ Competitions ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/competitions) - [ Events ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/events) - [ Geek411 Magazine ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/geek-411) - [ Graduate Studies ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/graduate-studies) - [ Military ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/military) - [ People, Places and Things ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/people-places-and-things) - [ Perimeter83 ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/Perimeter83) - [ Student Innovation Project (SIP) ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/student-innovation-project) - [ Student Work ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/student-work) - [ Technology News ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/technology-news) - [ UAT Life ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/UAT-life) - [ UAT News ](https://www.uattech.com/tag/UAT-news) [Blogs](https://blog.uat.edu/tag/blogs)   |   5 Min Read ## Why is Korean Music Popular? ![Picture of Austin Lee](https://blog.uat.edu/hubfs/Austin-Lee.jpg) [ Written by Austin Lee ](https://blog.uat.edu/author/austin-lee) [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/R0zu) There’s been an influx of increased interest in Korean music in the recent years, but what if I told you that it started way before that? Korean Pop (Kpop) has been spread through word of mouth and curiosity. Through that, Kpop has been able to have a sustainable life outside of South Korea.   ![PSY](https://blog.uat.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/corea-image-communication-institute-names-psy-biggest-star-of-2015.jpg?width=356&height=207&name=corea-image-communication-institute-names-psy-biggest-star-of-2015.jpg) PSY   The last Korean song to blow up globally was [*Gangnam Style*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0) by PSY in 2012 and it was able to bring an incredible amount of attention to the Kpop scene, bringing interest, investors, and listeners, bringing in an incredible 100 million views in 51 days. *Gangnam Style* is about the wealthy neighborhood of Gangnam in Seoul, South Korea where young people go for social outings, PSY describing what kind of guy he is, and what kind of girl he wants. The signature blue suit carried on to ride the fame, being featured on shows such as Superstar K4, a singing contest-type show, as well as being on Saturday Night Live. He was even able to [perform a song with the legendary Snoop Dogg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkMNOlYcpHg).     ![CL](https://blog.uat.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1841d4868b5965447550aac7c7cb4880.jpg?width=172&height=280&name=1841d4868b5965447550aac7c7cb4880.jpg) CL   Entertainment companies in South Korea, such as YG Entertainment, have been able to acquire some of the most popular artists such as PSY, [Big Bang](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btDd9rOlc2k), [Akdong Musician](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTl4Ib4qbzg), [CL](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr29X77OA5g), and [Epik High](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtPo67yqj60). Labels such as the Universal Music Group have even had their hand in the Korean music scene by sponsoring groups such as [B2ST](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTbC1UsBtek), now known as Highlight.     ![Epik High](https://blog.uat.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img2.jpg?width=351&height=232&name=img2.jpg) Epik High   Personally, I was introduced to Kpop through my sister back in 2009 and I was able to introduce it to some of my friends in school. The first song that I heard that got me into Kpop was [*Heartbreaker*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXEVd-Z7NE) by G Dragon. From there, curiosity spread far and wide. I found some of my favorite artists and I was even introduced to more by my friends. It’s a cycle that keeps on giving. I think that curiosity and a sense of new music to explore really kept me interested in Kpop. Hopefully I’ve given you some insight as to why Korean music has been popularized outside of Korean culture!   - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790&title=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?&picture=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3455363/Imported_Blog_Media/corea-image-communication-institute-names-psy-biggest-star-of-2015.jpg&description=Austin%20Lee,%20%20a%20University%20of%20Advancing%20Technology%20student%20writes%20about%20the%20increased%20popularity%20of%20Korean%20Pop%20Music%20or%20more%20colloquially%20known%20as%20KPop.) - [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790&text=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular) - [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790&title=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?&summary=Austin%20Lee,%20%20a%20University%20of%20Advancing%20Technology%20student%20writes%20about%20the%20increased%20popularity%20of%20Korean%20Pop%20Music%20or%20more%20colloquially%20known%20as%20KPop.) - [** ](mailto:?subject=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?&body=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?%20https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790) ### Don't forget to share this post! - [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790&title=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?&picture=https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/3455363/Imported_Blog_Media/corea-image-communication-institute-names-psy-biggest-star-of-2015.jpg&description=Austin%20Lee,%20%20a%20University%20of%20Advancing%20Technology%20student%20writes%20about%20the%20increased%20popularity%20of%20Korean%20Pop%20Music%20or%20more%20colloquially%20known%20as%20KPop.) - [** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?source=https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790&text=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular) - [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790&title=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?&summary=Austin%20Lee,%20%20a%20University%20of%20Advancing%20Technology%20student%20writes%20about%20the%20increased%20popularity%20of%20Korean%20Pop%20Music%20or%20more%20colloquially%20known%20as%20KPop.) - [** ](mailto:?subject=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?&body=Why%20is%20Korean%20Music%20Popular?%20https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/4790) ### Comment ## Related Articles [Blogs](https://blog.uat.edu/tag/blogs) [video game industry](https://blog.uat.edu/tag/video-game-industry) ### [Gaming Passion Series: Part 3 [Aesthetics]](https://blog.uat.edu/blogs/gaming-passion-series-part-3-aesthetics) Don’t you just love it when something looks pretty? 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